Floating dry dock



May 15, 1945. 4C; A D BAYLEY 2,375,762.'

FLOATING DRYDOCK Filed Feb. 18, 1943 5 sheets-sheet 1 OOOOGOOO Y LWENTOR. C hg; @LES/17 5A VLEK ATTORNEK" Mayl5, 1945. c. A. D. BAYLEY. 2,375,762

` FLOATING DRYDOCK Filed F'eb. 18, 1943 5 SheeSf-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Y CHABJLEsAQAj/LEH ATTURNEKS May 15, l945 c. A. D. BAYLEY FLOATING DRYDOGK Filed Feb. 18, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 d ATTORNEYS Patented May 15, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE d FLOATING DRY nook Charles A. D. Bayley, Montclair', N. J. Application February 1s, 194s, serial No; 476,367

4 is Claims. (01.114-46) l My present invention relates to a iioating drydock andmethod of making the same, particularly to the construction of sections from which a complete drydock may be assembled.`

Heretofore drydocks have been made in sec- 5 tions of wood, or steel, which generally necessitated the making of the drydockin localities near to the source of supply of these` materialsV 'and then towing the sections to the destination of assembly, involving considerableexpense and delay.`

In my present invention I obviate this expense and delay yby providing a drydock and a method of its construction of concrete and, therefore, of materials the greater part of `which can generally `be found at or close to the place where the drydock is to be assembled and used.

In my invention the sections Ifrom which the drydock is made are formed of a number of concrete cylindrical structures which maybe sep-` arately formed and then placed transverse to the length of the ship and slightly spaced. The cylinders of each section are then united into a single monolithic platform by' casting concrete beams at spaced intervals lengthwise of the drydock and enclosing and uniting withthe cylinders. Any suitable number of such concrete,

beams may be provided, ,but it is generally Sulli-` cient to have a pair of, them midway of the width of the drydock and, therefore, extending lengthwise below the keel of the ship carried by the drydock, and a second pair at each side of the drydock.

The cylindrical structures `maybe held rigidly in spaced position'between the beams `by means `35 of wedging blocks which may be tightened to wedge the series of cylinders together.

The cylinders may be cast independently by` l any suitable means, preferably by centrifugal force and when a number of them have been cast 40 and have hardened theymaythen` be brought into position to form the platform of the dry-` dock.

The cylinders may .be open-ended and their.. ends closed by being embedded in the longitudinal side beams, and each cylinder may be made in pairs and joined end-to-end .at the center line of the drydock. It will be understood that the cylinders Imay be arranged `in any desired position as,`for example, in layers or tiers, with the cylindersof the one layer in staggered relation to those of the other tier. `This is,` however, merely one example of the arrangement of the cylinders. l

Upright cylinders of similar vconstruction are also provided at the sides of the drydock sections, d

preferably mounted between theA beams of the pairs and united in a monolithic structure with` the cylinders and beams of the platform by lilling the spaces about their lower ends and between the cylinders and beams with concrete into which reinforcements of the vertical beams may project and be embedded.

i Stringers of concreternay be laid on and spanning the cylinders of the upper layer or series, and a ooring of concrete may be poured on these stringers. Means may be provided to admit water into the interiors of the several cylinders or to pump water therefrom` to submerge or oat the drydock.

`The sections may be submerged 'by pumping water into the cylinders until the door is below the Ikeel of the ship to be raised,`whereupon the drydock as a whole, or the several sections, may be oated under the ship, and upon pumping the water from the sections the ship and drydock raised until the floor' of thelatter is above the level of the water. Suitable end platforms may be mounted on the end sections. d

The various features of thehinvention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and. 2 are respectively a side elevation and a plan View `ol a drydock and ship mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a sectionof the drydock;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section ofthe lower part of the drydock taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a similar section of a part of the drydock. taken on the line 'l--l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionon a somewhat larger scale taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a part of a cylinder showing a detail of thewedging blocks;

Fig 10 is a Vertical sectiontaken on the line lll-l0 of Fig.3;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of a vertical cylinder and its reinforcements in position to be embedded in concrete in the platform of the drydock section, and

Fig. 12 is a detail takenin horizontal section on the line 2--l2 of Fig. l0.

Referring more particularly to Figs. `1 and 2, the drydock is formed of a number of sections l assembled end-to-end to form a complete drydock,`

way of example, although it will be understood that any number may be assembled to suit the size or length of the ship to be serviced.

The position of a ship I6 is indicated extending lengthwise of the assembled drydock sections and with the prow and stern extending respectively over extensionA platforms Il and `I8 at opposite ends of the drydock.

Each section of the drydock comprises a plat- 4form I9 on which. the ship rests and a pair of side walls and 2l on opposite sides of the ship against which the ship is braced by shoring braces 22.

The platform i9 comprises a tier of hollow concrete cylinders Z3 transverse to the length of the drydock and slightly spaced to form intervening spaces 24, and a lower tier of cylinders in staggered relation to the cylinders 23 and having spaces 26 similar to the spaces 24. Thesecylin ders may be of any desired cross-section, that is, polygonal or circular, but preferably circular because of the greater strength and ease in casting centrifugally.

In the'example shown in the drawings there are seven cylinders inthe upper tier and six in the lowertier but this ,is merely by way of illustration and the number of cylinders in each tier may be varied or selected for each individual case.

Although the cylinders may be made or cast in any suitable way, they are preferably reinforced and are cast centrifugally. This has the advantagev of providing a uniform, very dense and strong concrete'. It is also advantageous in that the cylinders may be made successively and quickly with the same form, giving the advantage of cheapness and uniformity.

The cylinders .may be made of less length than the width of the drydock and may be joined end to end to an intervening bulkhead such as that indicated at 2l in Fig. 5. For this purpose the reinforcements of the cylinders may beI Vcrossed to extend beyond their ends and embedded in a bulkhead as the latter is being cast or cemented in position. When the cylinders have been placed in position longitudinal beams are cast about them joining' the cylinders in a single unitary structure. l

In the specific example shown in the drawings there are two central beams 28 and 29, two beams 3l) and 3| at one side, and a pair of beams 32 l and 33 at the opposite side of the dock. These beams may be made by building forms-about the Icylinders and iilling them with concrete. In

this way, as the concrete sets and hardens in the form it unites in a single monolithic structure with the transverse cylinders.

Each of the cylinders 25`of the lower layer extends through the innermost beams 3l and 32 of the outer pair of longitudinal `beams to the outermost beams 3l! and 33 into which the ends of these cylinders are embedded to seal 'the interior of the cylinders into a watertight hollow structure. Similarly, the alternate beams of the upper layer or series, namely the odd numbered beams, l, 3, 5, etc., counting from either endof the section, extend through the inner beams 3| and 32 to be embedded and sealed to the outer beams 3l! and 33, while tbe interspersed beams, indicated at 34 in Fig. 6, terminate at and are embedded in the inner beams 3| and 32.

Suitable inlet and outlet pipes may be provided for admitting water to and pumping it from the l interior of the cylinders 23 and 25. But as these connections may be of any standard arrangement `the upper surfaces of the cylinders.

and form no part of the present invention they are not illustrated in the drawings.

As the platform is submerged and brought into position beneath the ship and then floated to lift the ship out of the water, various stresses of great magnitude are imposed on the cylinders 23 and 25. To stiffen these cylinders and hold them in their proper positions wedge blocks are provided between successive cylinders. These wedge blocks are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of a diameter of the cylinder and with their outer surfaces curved to approximate the curve of the cylinders 23 and 25. 'As they are drawn together they wedge between the cylinders holding the cylinders at a xed distance. These wedge blocks may also `be placed in position to hold the cylinders in place during assembly and before the longitudinal beams are cast.-

As shown in Fig. 8, pairs of these wedge blocks are suspended from Stringer segments 35 spanning the spaces between the upper surfaces of the uppery rowof cylinders 23, being provided with'suitable recesses to fit the 'curvature of the cylinders. Secured to and extending downwardly from the stringer segments 35 are bolts 3G which pass through a. pair of wedge blocks 3l and 38 on opposite sides of a plane through the centers or axes of the cylinders. A pair of individual bolts 39 and im also extend through the blocks 3l and 38,

land by being tightened draw these blocks toward each other and wedge them tightly against the opposite surfaces of the cylinders. y

By tightening the Vnut on the bolt 3E the Stringer segments 35 may be tightened downwardly onto Stringer section extends half way around the surface of the end cylinders 23, as indicated at 4l, to hold these end cylinders in position against the wedging action of the blocks 31v and 38.` Similarly l' wedge blocks 42 and 43 are provided in the spaces between the lower tier of cylinders 25 and may be tightened by means of bolts 44 and 45 to draw the wedge blocks together and wedge them to the surface of the cylinders.

Extending through'the wedge blocks 42 and 43 is a longer bolt t6 which also extends through a lower cross bar or Stringer section 4l which is thus drawn up against the lower surfaces of the cylinders 25. Diagonal wedge blocks 43 and 49 are positioned at a 45 degree intervalbetween the upper and lower sets of wedge blocks and are drawn together by means of bolts to wedgethe cylinders of the upper and lower tiers diagonally and thus brace them in a Vertical direction aswell asl a horizontal direction.

Toy the wedge blocks 43 and 49 between the outermost cylinders of the upper and lowermos't tiers is secured by means of the extension 5l of the bolt 5U a diagonal StringerY 52 which bears against the endmost cylinders of both the upper and lower tiers andthus completes the Stringer encirclement of the cylinders.

In this way the cylinders are braced in all direc- 'tionsagainst stresses and shocks and the drydock sections are held rigid,

The wedging blocks may, of course, be tightened at any time after the structure has been assembled, if they should become loose. These `blocks may be made of any material, but prefer- The end t dit submerged and to provide a side support for a ship docked in the dock, the side walls 20 and` 2i areprovided. These walls `are formed of ver-` tical cylinders 54, five being` shown by way of example in the specific illustration in the drawings. It will be understood, however, that any number of vertical cylinders may be used as circumstances may require. i

In the embodiment: shown vin the drawings there is one vertical cylinder for each of the cylinders of the upper tier,` except the outermost. These cylinders are `mounted between the outermost pair of longitudinal-beams 30 and 3|; and 32 and 33 respectively. Alternate vertical cylinders, namelylthe two end cylinders indicated as 55 in Fig. 10, and the middle cylinder ofthe group of ve cylinders, are mounted in 'the space between those cylinders that extendtothe outermost walls tively.

These cylinders, indicated at 55 in Fig. l0, ex-` tend to a short distance above the uppermost surface `of the lower tier and are anchored and embedded in a mass of concrete, indicated at 56 in Fig. `10. To anchor the lower end of the cylinder .'rsecurely in the concrete 56reinforcing` rods 51 extend from the lower ends ofthe cylinders and. are splayed outwardly toward the adjacent cylinders of the upper tier, as indicated in Fig. l1,

vand inwardly away from the end -or outermost beams 30 and y3l. Also the lower ends of the cylinders 55 are widened to form a circular wedge.

the cylinders 23, that extend between the beams 30 and 3l; and 32 and 33 respectively.

As shown at 58 in Fig, 10 the lower ends of the` cylinders 54 are widened `or wedged outwardly similarly to the lower ends of the cylinders55 and the reinforcements are splayed outwardly and downwardly, as at 59, and also embedded in `the mass ofconcrete 56 which is poured between the beams 3D and 3l;` and 32 and `33 respectively, between the outermost cylinders of the `upper and lower tiers thereby `uniting the Vspace between `these cylinders and between thebeams into a `solid monolithic structure with the vertical cylinders 54.

A platform 6D may be laid on the upper ends of the cylinders 54 sealing these cylinders and uniting them attheir upper ends,` thus giving the wall a greater rigidity` At spaced intervals are wedging blocks 6| and bars 62 which serve as supports forfstruts 63 between theside walls jY of the ship l5 and the vertical cylinders 54. Similarly blocks 64 may be provi-ded on the floor 53 to serve as abutments forthe struts (i3. Thewedging blocks 5I may be tightened against the bar 52 by means of tightening bolts 65.` l

It will be understood that a number of drydock sections may be provided separately andas- 3 and3l; and 32 and 33 respec-4 This widening may be accomplishedby applying sembled to form a drydock of any desired length.

Each section will be supplied with proper piping whereby the cylinders may be` emptied of water and filled with air` to raise or float the drydock,

or maybe partly or completely filled with `water to submerge it, suitable controls being provided for controlling the inow or outflow of water from the several cylinders. In submerging or floating all of the' cylinders may take part, the Wall cylinders 54 being, ofcourse, the last into which wateris admitted in submerging. If water is admitted into these cylinders they` will be the rst to be emptied on refloating.

Inasmuch as these details do not'forma part of` the present invention they are not shown in the accompanying drawings. i

By the above invention it is possible to construct a drydock with a minimum of forms and in localities where extensive shipbuilding facili-` ties and supplies are not readily available.

The cylinders may be constructed `centrifugally with a single form at some distance from the point of assembly, then assembled and wedgedinto position so that a minimum of forms-is required for I the longitudinal beams.

While the` invention has been illustrated as applied to a sectional drydock, it will be `under-` stood that this is merelyby way of example andthat a complete non-sectional drydockmay be formed of the same construction. Also the longitu`dinal beams have been shown as parallel but they need not vbe in all cases parallel butV may beinclined, or some of them diagonal; in accordance withthe'design of the drydock.` Also the `horizontal cylinders need not be exactly, nor even approximately, horizontal but might be `inclined wherever the design of the drydock might make that advantageous.

The pipes for the inlets and outlets or water from the several cylinders may be located whereever convenient, the side walls 30 and `33 forming a convenient place for these inlets` and outlets to the several cylinders.

WhatIclaimis:` 1. A methodof constructing oatingdrydocks of concrete which comprises forming hollow cylinders of concrete, placing said cylinders in closely spaced horizontal series side by side, transverse to the length of thedrydock, and forming longi-` tudinal concrete beams about said cylinders to form: therewith a monolithic structure.

2 A method of constructing floating drydocks of concrete which comprises forming hollow cylinders of concrete, placing said cylinders in close- `ly spaced horizontal series side `by side, transverse to thelength of the drydock,` and forming longitudinal concrete beams about said cylinders midway of their `length to unite said cylinders in monolithic structure: and forming side beams of concrete at the ends of said cylinders to close said cylinders and unite them at their ends.

w3. A `method of constructing floating drydocks of concrete which comprises forming hollow cyl` inders of concrete, placing said cylinders in an upper anda lower tier in spaced series side by side transverse to the length of the drydock, the length and arrangement of the cylinders of the upper tier being such that the ends of alternate` cylinders of the series are in spaced parallel` planesA and forming a pair of spaced concrete beams atthe planes ofsaid ends, the inner beam closingthe ends of those cylinders terminating inthe inner plane and enclosing the lowercylinl ders and the outer beam closing the ends of the cylinders in `the outer plane and also closingrthe ends of the cylinders of the lower tier.

4. A method of constructing oating drydocks of concrete which comprises forming hollow cyl- -inders of concrete, placing said cylinders in closely spaced' hri'zontal series side by side transverse to 'the length of the dryclock, bracing said` cylinders in position and forming longitudinal concrete-beams about said cylinders to unite them in a monolithic structure. A l

5. A method of constructingv floating drydocks of conc'zreteV which comprises forming hollow cylindersl of concrete, placing said' cylinders in close-` ly spaced horizontal series side by' side; transverse to the length of the drydock, forming spacedpairs of longitudinal beams of concrete about said cylinders at the ends of said cylinders, placing hollow cylinders in upright position with their lower ends between said spaced outer beams and above the ends of said horizontal cylinders and filling the space about the lower ends of said uprightv cylinders to unite said cylinders iny a monolithic structure with said horizontal cylinders' and longitudinal beams.

6. A method of constructing floating drydocks of concrete which comprises centrifugally casting Acylinders of concrete, placing said cylinders in closely spaced horizontal seriesy side by side, transverse to the length of the drydock, and forming longitudinal concrete beams about said cyl-` space about the lower ends of said cylinders and within said beams to unite said upright cylinders in a monolithic structure with said horizontal 1 cylinders and said longitudinal beams.

8. Afmethod of constructing floating drydocks of concrete which comprises forming hollow cylinders of concrete, placing said cylinders in closely spaced horizontal series side by side, transverse` to the length of `tht-i drydock, casting pairs of spaced longitudinal beams to embed the ends of said horizontal beams, placing hollow cylinders in upright `position with their lower ends in the Ispaces between the beams of said outer pairs flaring the outer surface of the lower ends of said upright beams and iilling the space about said flared ends and between said beams with concrete to form a monolithic structure-of said vertical and horizontal cylinders and longitudinal beams.

9. A' concrete floating drydock which comeach-sideof'said dock, certain of said transverse cylinders terminating in theinner beam of said pairs and' alternate cylinders extending through said inner beam and terminating in the outer beam ofsaid pairs. 1 12. A concrete floating drydock which comprises an upper and a lower tier of hollow concrete cylinders side by side at closely spaced intervalsv and transverse to the length of the dock, the cylinders of the upper tier being staggered relative to the cylinders of the lower tier, a pair of spaced longitudinal concrete side beams, the louter'of .said side beams embedding and closing the ends of the cylinders of the lower tier and alternate cylinders of the upper tier, the inner beam encircling the cylinders of both tiers and closing the ends of the cylinders of the upper tier between said alternate cylinders to form spaces between the cylindersv of the upper tier and above the cylinders of the lower tier, hollow upright concrete cylinders mounted in the space between the beams of said pair, alternate vertical cylinders extending downwardly into the spaces between tbe cylinders ofsaid upper tier and concrete embedding the lower end of said upright cylinders and joining them to said longitudinal beams and said horizontal cylinders,

13. A concrete oating drydock which comprises an upper and a lower tier of hollow `concrete cylinders side by side at closely spaced in-.

y tervals and transverse to the length of the dock,

prises a series of hollow closedv concrete cylinders spacedside by side and .transverse to the length of the dock and longitudinal concrete beams encircling said -cylinders and uniting them in a monolithic structure. l

l0. A concrete oating drydock which oomprises a series of hollow closed concrete cylinders spaced side by side and transverse to the length of the dock, a pair of longitudinal middle beams and a pairof side beams of concrete at the ends of said cylinders, said beams being formed about said cylinders to form a monolithic Vstructure therewith.

l1. A concrete floating drydock which comprises a series of hollow closed concrete cylinders spacedside by side and transverse to the length of the clock to form substantially horizontal tiers, pairs of spaced parallel outer beams, one pair at the cylinders of the upper tier being staggered relative to the cylinders of the lower tier, pairs of spaced longitudinal concrete -side beams, the outer beams of each pair embedding and closing the ends of the cylinders of the lower tiery andr alternate cylinders of the upper tier, the inner beam encircling the cylinders of both tiers and closing the ends of the cylinders of the upper tier between said alternate cylinders to form spaces between the cylinder-sof the upper tier and above the cylinders of the lower tier, hollow upright concrete cylinders mounted at their lower yends on the parts of said khorizontal cylinders between said beams of said pairs, certain of saidl Vertical cylinders extending downwardly into the spaces-between said beams and concrete embeddingv the lower ends of said upright cylinders and joining them to saidr longitudinal beams and to said horizontal cylinders and a connecting beam connecting the upper ends of said vertical cylinders.

-14,.A concrete floating drydock which comprises a series of hollow concrete cylinders closely spaced side by side and transverse to the length of the dock, spaced longitudinal concrete beams encircling and uniting said cylinders in a monolithic structure and bracing members between and engaging the parts of said cylinders between said longitudinal beams.

.15. A concrete floating drydock which comprises a series of hollow concretecylinders closely spaced side by side and transverse to the length of the dock, longitudinal concrete beams embedding said cylinders and uniting them in a monolithic structure and bracing blocks between said cylinders comprising a pair of blocks on opposite sides of a plane through the diameters of said cylinders and bolts to draw said blocks together to Wedge vone cylinder from another.

'16. A concrete iloating drydock which com` prises an assembly of hollow concrete cylinders in an upper and a lower tier, the cylinders of one tier being staggered relativeto the cylinders of the other tier, transversely spaced longitudinal tween said beams.

,17. A. concrete floating dock which comprises a horizontal series of hollow closed concrete cyli inders arranged side by side and extending transverse to the length of the dock, a pair of longitudinal concrete beams at each side of said dock uniting the ends of said cylinders in a monon lithic structure, certain of said cylinders extending through the inner beam to the outer beam of said pairsand others of said horizontal cylinders terminating in the innermost beam of said pairs to form spaces between said beams, hollow upright wall cylinders of concrete, certain of said upright cylinders extending into the spaces between said beams and concrete embedding the lower ends of said upright cylinders and united to said beams and said transverse cylinders.`

18. A concrete iloating drydock which comprises a series of hollowconcrete cylinders spaced .side by side and transverse to the length of the Ydock, longitudinal concrete beams encircling said cylinders and uniting them in a monolithic structure, Stringer segments laid longitudinally of said dock on the uppermost'surface of said series of cylinders, wedge blocks between the uppermost of said cylinders below said stringers and n below the level of the axes of saidupper cylinders i and means for drawing said stringere and said wedge blocks together to hold said stringers in position and to brace said cylinders.

CHARLES A. D. BAYLEY; 

